America's new cold war? U.S. military widens focus from 'fighting violent extremism' to 'security threat' from the East

The U.S. military is moving beyond focusing on the war in Afghanistan to addressing the developing threat from the East as the region's wealth and power continues to soar.

In the first new statement of strategy in seven years, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said that while the military remained committed to fighting violent extremism with allies in Afghanistan and Pakistan, it recognised the growing complex security challenges from the Asia-Pacific region.

The military strategy will be viewed as a seismic shift for the U.S. as the country's troops begin returning home from Afghanistan this July.

President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama welcome China's President Hu Jintao for a State Dinner at the White House last month. The new U.S. military strategy recognises the threat from the Asia-pacific region

Responsibility for security is expected to be transferred to the Afghan authorities by 2014.

Threats to America from the Asia-Pacific region include the rise of China, North Korea’s nuclear programme, as well as the shifting global economic balance and a fierce competition for natural resources, a military source said.

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Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in the strategy: 'China’s decades-long economic growth is expected to facilitate its continued military modernisation and expansion of its interests within and beyond the region.

THREATS FROM THE EAST

China's wealth has enabled the country to boost its military muscle.

In December, a U.S. naval commander warned that China was stepping up testing on a space missile that could sink American aircraft carriers in the Pacific.

The DF 21D's uniqueness is in its ability to hit a powerfully defended moving target with pinpoint precision - a capability U.S. naval planners are scrambling to deal with.

The U.S. is also concerned with China's diplomatic backing of rogue regimes, including North Korea.

According to U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert gates, North Korea is becoming a direct threat to America and could develop an inter-continental ballistic missile within five years.

North Korea has threatened to test such missiles, and has already conducted underground nuclear tests that prove it has manufactured at least rudimentary nuclear weapons.

The national military strategy also warned of the impact Iran could have in the Middle East if it got hold of nuclear weapons.

'A nuclear-armed Iran could set off a cascade of states in the region seeking nuclear parity or increased conventional capabilities - that could lead to regional conflict,' it said.

'Other states in Asia, too, are becoming more militarily capable as they grow more prosperous.'

The U.S. has long been concerned with China's links with North Korea.

The strategy added: 'We will continue to monitor carefully China’s military developments and the implications those developments have on the military balance in the Taiwan Strait.

'We remain concerned about the extent and strategic intent of China’s military modernisation, and its assertiveness in space, cyberspace, in the Yellow Sea, East China Sea, and South China Sea.

'To safeguard U.S. and partner nation interests, we will be prepared to demonstrate the will andcommit the resources needed to oppose any nation’s actions that jeopardise access to and use of the global commons and cyberspace, or that threaten the security of our allies.'

Today, however, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano insisted that the U.S. still faces huge threats from groups inside America.

Warning that the threat of terrorism against the country was in some aspects 'at its most heightened state' since the September 11, 2001 attacks, she said Al Qaeda and new groups inspired by the terror organisation 'could carry out acts of violence with little or no warning'.

'The terrorist threat facing our country has evolved significantly in the last ten years - and continues to evolve - so that, in some ways, the threat facing us is at its most heightened state since those attacks,' she said in testimony to the House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee.

'As I have said before, we cannot guarantee that there will never be another terrorist attack, and we cannot seal our country under a glass dome,' she said. 'However, we continue to do everything we can to reduce the risk of terrorism in our nation.'

Just last month, President Obama hosted a state dinner for China's President Hu Jintao at the White House.

Security threats: U.S. troops will start coming home from Afghanistan in July this year. The new military strategy said the focus has widened to include the increasing threat from the Asia-Pacific region (file picture)

Hu said both countries should 'respect each other's sovereignty, territorial integrity and development interests', while President Obama added: 'I absolutely believe China's peaceful rise is good for the world, and it's good for America.'

Security vow: Admiral Mike Mullen said economic, diplomatic and military tools would all be used to 'influence adversary behaviour'

The military strategy also referred to America's economic problems and the impact on security.

'The United States will remain the foremost economic and military power for the foreseeable future, though national debt poses a significant national security risk,' the statement said.

'The nation’s strategic priorities and interests will increasingly emanate from the Asia-Pacific region. The region's share of global wealth is growing, enabling increased military capabilities.

'This is causing the region’s security architecture to change rapidly, creating new challenges and opportunities for our national security and leadership.'

The strategy calls for improving global security by forging deeper military-to-military relationships and cooperation with China and other Asia-Pacific countries, as well as the strengthening of regional and international partnerships.

'We will support whole-of-nation deterrence approaches that blend economic, diplomatic, and military tools to influence adversary behaviour,' it said.

The security threats that exist in cyberspace were also set out in the strategy.

'Enabling and war-fighting domains of space and cyberspace are simultaneously more critical for ouroperations, yet more vulnerable to malicious actions,' it said. 'The space environment is becoming more congested, contested, and competitive. Some states are conducting or condoning cyber intrusions that foreshadow the growing threat in this globally-connected domain.'

The national military strategy addresses in broad general terms how the military forces will be used.

By law it must be reviewed every two years, but it is not necessarily revised unless changes are needed.

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U.S. national military strategy focuses on complex challenges from East